There was once a farmer whose sons were always quarrelling bitterly. No matter what he said to them they would soon start again. One day he decided that he would give them a lesson.

“Come my sons,” he said. “I want you to go into the woods and each of you come back with some sticks for the fire.” The sons went off and after a while they returned with the sticks. “Now, my sons,”he said. “Tie them into a bundle.” The sons did so.

“I wonder,” said the farmer. “Which one of you is the strongest and can break this bundle of sticks?” Each son tried his best but no one was able to break the bundle of sticks. “Now,” he said, “untie the bundle and take the sticks one by one and break them.” “Oh that’s easy,” said the boys and they soon had the sticks broken, ready for the fire. “Let this be a lesson to you,” said the farmer. “If you let quarrels divide you, you cannot do well, but if you stand together you will be strong and overcome your problems.”